The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford — Volume 3 eBook

You will wonder more at what I am going to tell you
in the last place: I am preparing, in earnest,
to make you a visit-not next week, but seriously in
February. After postponing it for seven idle
months, you will stare at my thinking of it just after
the meeting Of the Parliament. Why, that is
just one of my principal reasons. I will stay
and see the opening and one or two divisions; the
minority will be able to be the majority, or they
will not: if they can, they will not want me,
who want nothing of them: if they cannot, I am
sure I can do them no good, and shall take my leave
of them;—­I mean always, to be sure, if things
do not turn on a few votes: they shall not call
me a deserter. In every other case, I am so
sick of politics, which I have long detested, that
I must bid adieu to them. I have acted the part
by your brother that I thought right. He approves
what I have done, and what I mean to do; so do the
few I esteem, for I have notified my intention; and
for the rest of the world, they may think what they
please. In truth, I have a better reason, which
would prescribe my setting out directly, if it was
consistent with my honour. I have a return of
those nightly fevers and pains in my breast, which
have come for the three last years -,it this season:
change of air and a better climate are certainly necessary
to me in winter. I shall thus indulge my inclinations
every way. I long to see you and my Lady Hertford,
and am wofully sick of the follies and distractions
of this country, to which I see no end, come what
changes will! Now, do you wonder any longer
at my resolution? In the mean time adieu for
the present!

(694) D’Auberval was not only a celebrated dancer,
but a composer of ballets.@.

(695) The reconciliation of the Duke and Duchess of
Grafton.-E.

(696) The Princess Dowager of Wales.

(697) Lord Morton was elected.

Letter 232 To The Right Hon. Lady Hervey.
November 10, 1764. (page 355)

Soh! madam, you expect to be thanked, because you
have done a very obliging thing.(698) But I won’t
thank you, and I won’t be obliged. It
is very hard one can’t come into your house and
commend any thing, but you must recollect it and send
it after one! I will never dine in your house
again; and, when I do, I will like nothing; and when
I do, I will commend nothing; and when I do, you shan’t
remember it. You are very grateful indeed to
Providence that give you so good a memory, to stuff
it with nothing but bills of fare of what every body
likes to eat and drink! I wonder you are not
ashamed! Do you think there is no such thing
as gluttony of the memory?—­You a Christian!
A pretty account you will be able to give of yourself!-Your
fine folks in France may call this friendship and
attention, perhaps—­but sure, if I was to
go to the devil, it should be for thinking of nothing
but myself, not of others, from morning to night.
I would send back your temptations; but, as I will
not be obliged to you for them, verily I shall retain
them to punish you; ingratitude being a proper chastisement
for sinful friendliness. Thine in the spirit,
Pilchard Whitfield.